Jamie Paterson has pinpointed the moment when his season turned round and he forced his way into Lee Johnson's Bristol City set-up.

Since the dispiriting 5-0 defeat up at Deepdale against Preston North End, 'Pato' has started every game and delivered three goals, two assists and two man of the match performances. He's fast becoming undroppable for Johnson.

"Maybe it was the time we lost 5-0 at Preston. In my mind I felt like I had to step up and to try and prove myself to the lads and the fans. I put in 100 per cent when I was out of the team, working hard in the gym.

"You work hard and you get the rewards. Not all the time, but thankfully I've had a good run," said Paterson after the game on Saturday.

Bristol City's players cut a dejected look at Deepdale in midweek.

And why the Preston game in particular?

"For me personally, I was itching from the sides to get on and change something. I'm sure the other lads were as well, but I just remember thinking to myself I might be in with a chance of playing the next game.

"As soon as I got that chance I just thought, in my mind, I want to be the one to change something. Everybody wants to do it and it's not as easy to do on the pitch but it was good to get the first goal in the Wolves game and it gave me a bit of confidence.

"It's good to show the fans what you can do, and you can build on that. When I get the ball I can hear them [the crowd] cheering - it's a confidence thing more than anything," explained Paterson.

Aden Flint. (Image: Rogan Thomson/JMP)

The clouds were gathering, City were 1-0 down and the home crowds were becoming frustrated on Saturday afternoon at 4pm. Then Jamie Paterson twisted away from his marker to play a laser-guided deep cross to the far post for Josh Brownhill to knock into the area and Tammy Abraham to score.

An astute lob over the advancing Adam Davies in goal, and a perfectly placed corner straight onto the forehead of Aden Flint meant that Pato was involved in all three goals in the win over the Tykes.

"We've been working on corners in training... [Flint] connected with it perfectly. It was a great header in the end and we stepped up when we needed to," said Paterson of Saturday's winning goal.